Lawn seed drill



March 18, 1952 H. Gl NEWMAN ET AL LAWN SEED DRILL 2 SHEETS--SHEET l Filed March 17, 1950 IN V EN TOR.

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i c A ,4 r 7- ca /vars March 18, 1952 H. G. NEWMAN ET AL LAWN SEED DRILL 2 SHEETS- SHEET 2 Filed March 17, 1950 @Joop-'@0001 o uoooooc Patented Mar. 18, 19,52

UNITED STATES PATENTv OFFICE LAWN SEED' DRILL HymieY G. Newman and-Dave.B. Newman, Edmonton, Alberta,- :Canada Our invention relates to a lawn seed drill.

A primary object of the invention isto provide a highly simplied and effective lawn seeding machine or drill, which is-hand-operated, so as to be particularly useful for making new lawns and replenishing old ones, by home owners and the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a seeding attachment which may be readily mounted upon substantially any rotary typefertilizer spreader.

A further object is to provide'a lawn seed'drill, the usevof which will result in the germination of a higher percentage of the'plantedseed, and which will materially reduce the time and labor generally required for planting a lawn.

A further object is to provide a deviceofthe above-mentioned character which eliminates the need for raking the seed into the soil, after it is cast upon the soil.

A further'object of the invention is to provide a lawn seed drill which is equally useful for spreading fertilizer upon the lawn.

A still further object is to provide a device of the above-mentioned character which is highly compact, simplified, extremely strong and durable and relatively inexpensive to build.`

Other objects and'advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of'this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a lawn seed drill embodying our invention,`

Figure 2 is a plan view ofthe same,

Figure 3 is a` rear end elevational'view of the drill; parts in section,

Figure 4 is a transverse verticalsectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary'perspective View `of a gage plate removed,

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a drill plate removed, and,

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary verticalsectional View takenon line I-1 o'f'Figure 3.

In the drawings,where for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral III designates an onen topped hopper or' seed box, including vertical ends II, a rear-vertical side I2 and a forward inclined' side I3. The inclined side I3 slopes downwardly and rearwardly toward the rear verticali` side.. I2, so. that a. flat bottomk I4 of* the at the transverse center` of the hopper I0 and top fthereof. `zontally with the hat bottom I4 spacedv above rhopper between the ends I IL 2 hopper 'is' substantially narrower `than the v`open The vhopper I Il is supported horithe ground, by means of end wheels I5, mounted upon a horizontal transverse shaft or axle'- I6 which is'journaled'upon the opposite ends II and-'extends throughout the entirelength of "the As showny in Figure 4, the lshaft I6 is spaced above the'y bottom III- and substantially midway between the forward and rear sides I3 and I2. Circumferentially spacedradialagitator blades or fins II` are rigidly secured'to the shaft or axle I6inwardly ofthe ends I I, and these blades I'I preferably extend for substantially the entire Alength of the shaft I6 between'the ends II; When the shaft I6rotates vwith the wheels I5, the `outeror'free edges ofthe radial blades I1 pass close to the bottom I4 and sides I 2 and I 3, as shown.

Therear vertical sideV I2 is provided near an'd above the bottom I4, and substantially at the elevation of thefhorizontal shaft I6 with a horizontal transverse group'or row of seed discharge openings I8, which are equidistantly spacedlaterally and disposed at the sameelevation. The seed discharge openings I8V are preferably spaced apartA a vslight distance only, such as oneinch, although this distance may bevaried, as desired.

A rearwardly extending upwardly inclined handle I 9. is provided, and this handle is -disposed extends above and rearwardly of thehopp'er'for a substantial distance, Figure l. An` attaching yoke including arms -2II is rigidly secured .to the bottom end ofthe vhandle I9, and short longitudinal sidesor extensions 2I areJ-integrallysecured...to.theouter ends 'ofthe-arms 20,- anddisposed.. adjacent.. to l the outer faces of' the. ends II and rigidly securedto,suchendsbymeans of bolts 22 or the like. As shown in Figure 1, the extensions 2| are secured. tothe ends` II near thetop of the hopper. Thehandlelaandits yoke, arms 20 are thus rigidly.` secured to the hopper I Il, so thatt when. the rear end of the handle I9 is raised and lowered, the .entirehopper I0' is, tilted or pivoted about the axle orjshaft I6.

Allongitudinallbar or brace 23 is rigidlysecu'red to the top edges ofthe sides I2 and I3 at" the transverse center of thehopper IIJ, and this brace 23 "extends longitudinally across thetop'of the hopper-and is in'longitudinal alignment with'the handle I 9: At its rear-end, the brace-23 vincludes an' upstanding apertured lug 24 with which the forward endv of aA vertically `swingable bell crank lever v25 is'pivotally connected, by 4means loffazpin or bolt 26. The bell crank lever 25 extends longitudinally rearwardly of the hopper I and includes a depending extension or arm 21 which extends between the arms 20 and below the handle I9, Figure 1. An inclined straight reciprocatory operating rod 28 is disposed beneath the handle I9, and has its bottom end pivotally connected with the lower end of the arm 21, as at 29. Near its upper end, the operating rod 28 is slidable longitudinally within a depending loop or sleeve 30, which is rigidly secured to the bottom side of the handle I9 near the top of the handle.

Slidably mounted upon the outer face of the rear vertical side I 2 is a narrow elongated transverse seed discharge control plate or baie 3|,

which extends for substantially the entire width of the rear side I2. The plate or baie 3| is provided with a pair of spaced inclined or diagonal lslots 32, slidably receiving therein bolts 33 or the like which coact with the slots 32 to guide the `plate or baille 3| when it is shifted over the rear side I2, by means which will be presently described. A plurality of transversely spaced oiset brackets or guides 34 are rigidly secured to the rear side I2 by means of bolts 35 or the like, and

Vthe brackets 34 are spaced rearwardly slightly of the side I2 so that the plate or baiiie 3| may Nslidably engage between the brackets 34 and rear side I2. The offset brackets 34 serve to maintain the plate or baffle 3| in sliding engagement with the rear side I2 at all times. The slots 32 cooperate with the bolts 33 to limit the upward anddownward movement of the baiile 3|.

-Additional means are provided to adjustably limit the upward movement of the plate or baille 3|. SuchV means comprises a pair of polygonal plates 36, pivotally secured to the rear vertical side I2 by means of bolts 31 or the like. The

` bailie 3| is'provided at its top edge and adjacent Yto the plates 36 with short horizontal rearwardly projecting anges or tongues 38, integral with the baille 3|, and adapted to engage beneath the plates 36. The arrangement is such that the polygonal plates 36 may be turned or pivoted to the desired adjusted positions, and locked sel curely in place by means of the bolts 31. In this manner, any of the various sides or corners of -the plates 36 may be arranged to contact the tongues 38 of the bale 3|, so that the upward h `movement of the baffle 3| will be limited or stopped lat the desired point.

A substantially vertical bar of strap 39 is disposed near and rearwardly of the rear side I2, and has its top end pivotally connected as at 46 with the bell crank lever 25, rearwardly of the substantially flat inclined gage plate 42 is adjustably mounted upon the inclined bracket 4I, and is provided with a plurality of transversely spaced vertically extending slots 43 and 43', re-

ceiving therethrough bolts 44 or the like. Near its bottom, the gage plate 42 is bent to provide a Adepending substantially vertical portion or strip 45, integral therewith, and rigidly secured to the tially horizontal strip or ground engaging foot 46. The foot 46 may be adjusted kvertically by loosening the bolts 44 and sliding the gage plate 42 upwardly or downwardly upon the bracket 4|, the slots 43 and 43' of the gage plate permitting this adjustment. As shown clearly in Figures 1 and 4, the ground engaging strip or foot 46 is arranged a substantial distance below and rearwardly of the hopper bottom I4, and adapted to engage the ground when the handle I9 is lowered.

vMounted upon the gage plate 42 is a corrugated seeder or drill plate 41, having its top end bevelled vertically, as -at 48 for engagement against the outer face of the vertical side I2. The upper portion of the drill plate 41 is corrugated, throughout the entire width of the drill plate for forming a plurality of inclined longitudinal V- shaped troughs or grooves 49, which are disposed directly 'beneath the seed discharge openings I8. Corresponding peaks or ridges 59 are formed upon the drill plate 41 and arranged between the openings I8, so that when grass seed or fertilizer is discharged through the openings IS it will gravitate directly into the inclined V-shaped troughs 49 of the drill plate. The V-shaped troughs 49 and ridges 50 of the corrugated drill plate terminate a substantial distance above the bottom of the drill plate, and the bottom portion of the drill plate is formed to provide a plurality of integral inclined longitudinal cylindrical tubular extensions or drills 5I. The arrangement is such that the bottom ends of the V- shaped troughs 49 lead directly into the open tops of the tubular extensions or drills 5I, and the bottom ends of the drills 5| are open, so that the seed .or fertilizer may pass downwardly through vthe drills. We wish to emphasize at this point that the extensions or drills 5| may also be formed U-shaped, or V-shaped in transverse cross'section instead of tubular. In fact, the extensions or drills 5I may obviously be given substantially any desired shape in transverse cross section, such as rectangular or diamond shaped. The bottom or trailing ends of the drills 5I are disposed rearwardly of the ground engaging foot 46, Figure 4, and when the gage plate 42 is properly adjusted, the bottom ends of the drills 5| should project slightly below the foot 46 so that they may engage inthe soil for forming furrows or grooves, as the device is pushed forwardly over the ground. The drill plate 41 is provided with a plurality of transversely spaced openings for receiving the bolts 44, which also serve for rigidly securing the drill plate 41 to the gage plate 42 and bracket 4 I. The bevelled end 48 of the drill plate 41 is maintained in engagement with the verti-cal side I2 at all times, the gage plate 42 being adjusted, by means of the slots 43 and 43', to vary the elevation of the foot 46.

The drill plate 41 is preferably provided at its opposite ends with integral ilat extensions or ears 52, which lie flat against the gage plate 42, adjacent to the opposite end slots 43 thereof. A horizontal transverse angle bar or brace 53 is preferably rigidly secured to the top of the drill plate 41, near the longitudinal centers of the V-shaped troughs 49, and this brace 53 increases the rigidity of the drill plate and gage plate 42. Also, the brace 53 extends across the tops of all of the V-shaped troughs 49, and constitutes a levelling or scraping bar beneath which the seed or fertilizer must pass after being discharged through the openings I8 and into the troughs 49. If an SXGQSSve amount of seed or fertilizer is inl"excessive famounttwi'll -pile"upforfaccumulatefbe hind thermemb'er "53 sothat` the'amount ofseed or ,fertilizer v.passing y.througheach 1trough 49 A"will `The higher the foot 46 is elevated, ,the deeperwill be, the'fllrrows or grooves formed. in thesoil by the drills..5| Likewise, the farther downwardly the..foot.1,46}is adjusted, fthe shallower will-be the furrows formedby the drills'li The hopper I!! is.i"1lled'or,l partly filled' with'. grass seednely divided.fertilizer, or the lik'eand theV deviceis propelledover the lawn byy pushing 4upon the handle |92' The blades rotate with the shaft |6, and continuouslyagitate-the contents of the hopper; so that no large lumps or clods can form.

The rate of dischargezof; the seed or fertilizer .through ,the openings.Y lrsiscontrolled by the .manipulationvof the rod 28, and associated. elements. When the rod 28 is pulled rearwardly longitudinally, the bell crank lever 25 swings upwardly about its pivot 26, for elevating the strap 39 and plate or baille 3|. The baille 3| will shift upwardly Ibetween the brackets 34 and rear side l2, until the top of the baille engages the plates 36, which limit its upward movement, The downward movement of the baille 3| is limited by the tops of the slots 32, and these slots also serve to guide the reciprocation of the baille 3|, as previously stated. When the rod 28 is pushed longitudinally forwardly, the bell -crank lever swings downwardly, lowering the baille 3|, and covering the discharge openings I3. In this manner, the extent of uncovering of the openings |8 may be controlled by the operator. If desired, the operating rod 28 may be reciprocated, so that the plate or baille 3| will shift up and down, alternately covering and uncovering the discharge openings I8. Also, the baille 3| may be shifted to a desired position, wherein it either partially or wholly uncovers the discharge openings 8 and held in such position by the operator.

As the device is propelled over the ground, the handle I9 is depressed suflciently to maintain the foot 46 in contact with the ground. This causes the drills 5| to cut shallow furrows or grooves in the soil, while the seed or fertilizer is continuously fed through the discharge openings I8 by the agitator blades, and downwardly through the V-shaped troughs 49 and tubular drills 5|. In this manner, the furrows or grooves formed by the drills 5| will have continuous streams of seed or fertilizer deposited within them, as the device is pushed forwardly.

After the drills 5| have formed the furrows and deposited the seed or fertilizer within them, if the soil is soft and granular, the furrows will tend to fill themselves in or close, after the passing of the drills 5|. However, to insure the proper lling of the furrows, as well as the complete covering of the seeds or fertilizer, it may be desirable to roll the ground transversely of the furrows formed by the drills 5|, after the planting operation is completed. However, it should be noted that it is not necessary to rake the seed or fertilizer into the lawn after it is planted. The drills 5| in effect perform the raking operation, during the distribution of the seed or fertilizer.

vsubstantial saving vin labor -'and timev is effected? ='the 4seeding or fertili'z'ifngi of a lawn; -i't should never/ be :neeessaryffto -do f -morel than use ourrdevice; asaaboveJ described; and ithenA roll-"the flawn:

Thecons'truction of the device-'isflfighlyfsimplified, compactfandextremely sturdy. The-various partsrar'efall fwell adapted for'largefscaleor'mass productionv methods,v and the entire-'device should "be relatively inexpensive to fbuildi "It isto 'be `understood 'that the form of "the" 4invention, herewith showna-nd described is to be taken as'a preferredexample ofthe-same;l Aand thatvarious'changesfiny shape; size andfarrange-V ment" of? parts may be'i'resorted' i to; without M departing-'from the Aspirit of` the-invention" vorfth'e `scope of the subj'oined claims:

'Having thus described our invention, we claim-z l. A' lawn seedplanter. comprising a wheeled hopper adapted for forward movementialonga 'longitudinal path of travel, said hopper beingjof considerable transverse extentperpendicular to said path` of travel vand having a generally horizontall bottom and a -generally vertical rear. side, the rearV side beingfprovidedlwith a discharge opening extending for substantiallythe entire transverse extent of the hopper, means operatively connected with the hopper for feeding seed through the discharge opening, handle means secured to the hopper and extending longitudinally rearwardly therefrom for propelling and tilting the hopper, a generally flat inclined gage plate secured to the hopper bottom and arranged below the discharge opening and extending for substantially the entire transverse extent of the hopper, the gage plate extending below and rearwardly of the rear side of the hopper and including a part adapted to contact the ground when the handle means is tilted downwardly, and a drill plate having corrugations disposed parallel to said path of travel mounted upon the gage plate and arranged below the discharge opening, said drill plate extending for substantially the entire transverse extent of the hopper and substantially covering the gage plate, the corrugations of the drill plate being of small transverse extent and disposed parallel to the path of travel of the hopper to form closely spaced narrow troughs receiving seed from the discharge opening, the lower portion of each trough being separated from other like portions and formed into a seed conveying extension to provide a series of transversely spaced extensions receiving seed from said troughs and projecting below and rearwardly of the part of the gage plate adapted to contact the ground, the lower ends of said extensions adapted to form closely spaced furrows in the ground and deposit seed therein when the handle means is tilted downwardly and the hopper is propelled forwardly.

2. A lawn seed planter comprising a wheeled hopper adapted for forward movement along a longitudinal path of travel, said hopper being of considerable transverse' extent perpendicular to said path of travel and having a generally horizontal bottom and a generally vertical rear side, the rear side being provided with a discharge opening extending for substantially the entire transverse extent of the hopper, means operatively connected with the hopper for feeding seed through the discharge opening, handle means secured to the hopper and extending longitudinally rearwardly therefrom for propelling and tiltgage plate superimposed upon and adjustably secured to the bracket and arranged below the discharge opening and extending for substantially the entire transverse extent of the hopper, the gage plate extending below and rearwardly of the rear side ,of the hopper and including a part adapted to contact the ground when the handle means is tilted downwardly, and a drill plate having corrugations disposed parallel to said path of travel mounted upon the gage plate and arranged below the discharge opening, said drill plate extending for Ysubstantially the entire transverse extent of thev hopper and substantially covering the gage plate, the corrugations of the drill plate being of small transverse extent and disposed parallel to the path of travel of the hopper to form closely spaced narrow troughs receiving seed from the discharge opening, the lower portion of each trough being separated from other like portions and formed into a seed conveying extension to provide a series of transversely spaced extensions receiving seed from said troughs and projecting below and rearwardly of the part of the gage plate adapted to contact the ground, the lower ends of said extensions 8 adapted to form closely spaced furrows in the ground and deposit seed therein when the handle means is tilted downwardly and the hopper is propelled forwardly.

G. NEWMAN. DAVE B. NEWMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 356,438 Ball Jan. 25, 1887 880,908 Niebel Mar. 3, 1908 909,478 Thorp Jan. l2, 1909 977,884 King Dec. 6, 1910 Y 1,254,859 Siemann Jan. 29. 1918 1,473,297 Knight Nov. 6, 1923 2,318,064 Delaney May 4, 1943 2,522,693 l Stiteler Sept. 19, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 1,898 Great Britain 1912 5,405 G'reat Britain 1915 290,994 Germany Mar. 29, 1916 

